Officials Find Way To Pay For School Roof

Extra Funds From Previously Approved Bonds To Be Diverted To Woodland Project

February 17, 2005|By JIM FARRELL; Courant Staff Writer

EAST HARTFORD — The town has found a creative way to pay for a new roof at Woodland School.

Unspent money from school-related bonds approved by voters in 1993 and 1996 will be used to fund what the board of education has deemed its most urgent capital improvement project.

``We're going to get it done,'' Michael Walsh, the town's finance director, said Wednesday, a day after the town council approved the plan.

The roof is ``frequently leaking and experiencing moisture penetration,'' according to information in a resolution approved by the council.

Officials estimate the cost of a new roof to be $575,000 and say the state is expected to reimburse $394,000.

That leaves an anticipated town share of $181,000.

Some officials had suggested the school board pay for the work using money in its 2004-05 budget. With four months left in the current budget year, the district has about $1.6 million unencumbered in its $73 million budget.

Superintendent Marion Martinez also included the project in her recommended 2005-06 budget, but the item was among the $2 million in cuts the board made to reduce the proposed budget to $77.5 million.

The solution forged this week is a bit complicated.

In 1993, voters approved borrowing $2.3 million for specific school projects. But the question on the ballot also noted that money could be used for ``other improvements at various town schools.''

Walsh said $148,000 from what was borrowed then was not spent.

Likewise, $33,000 remains from a school-related bond package in 1996, although the wording of that question provided less flexibility to use money for discretionary school projects.

By routing the money through the general fund, though, it can be used for the Woodland repairs, Walsh said.

Al Costa, the school district's facilities director, said work could begin in the summer and be completed by late fall.

``It is not feasible or cost-effective to continue to repair and patch it.''